Coating machine



G. H. WHITE COAIING MACHINE may 27. 1924. www@ i922 3 Shoots-Sheet. 1

3ra/vanto@ atkins may 27 1924.

G. H. wwwa CCATING MACHIE Filed Feb. 20, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 atto: ma

EAQSJE 9 May 27, 1924.

G. H. WHITE COATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 COATING- f wma, or waas-fw mor or conm. l

Application @led February 20, 1922. Serial No. 537,999.

To all who/rait may'cmwern.' v

Be it known that I, GEORGE HALL Warm, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Washington, inthe District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coating Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines designed primarily for dipping and handling bars of ice cream when coating the same with a confection.

' In the manufacture of what is now popularly known as Eskimo Pie, it is customary to dip each individual bar of ice cream by hand into .a body of chocolate or like coating, and then manually and individually place each bar on a conveyer to be subsequently wrapped and stored.

The object of this invention is to dis ense with the slow individual handling o the bars and provide mechanical means for automatically picking up a bar of ice cream, dipping the same into a pot of coating, removing the coated bar, allow the chocolate or like coating to cool, and subsequently automatically remove the coated bar to be carried away by a conveyer for subsequent wrapping and refrigeration.y

A'urther object of the invention is to provide automatic mechanism for coating ice cream or other bars mechanically to increase production and improve the uniformv ity of the product.

The invention also comprehends improvements in the details of construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. f

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. y

Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the l cam track.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modified forn` of the invention.

Fig. 8 indicates theopen and closed posi tions of the Fig. 7

1 indicates a base or frame, and rising therefrom is a 'sleeve 2. Mounted in abearing in the base or frame v and extending thru the sleeve is a 'shaft 3, provided with a worm gear 4, which meshesv with a worm 5, suitably connected to a motor indicated'at 6. 0n the upper end of thesleeve is mounted a spider 8, which carries atrack 9,*provided with a. series ofr cams. Track 9is formed with a deep depression indicated at 10, from the wall of which extendsa horizontal portion 10, and from. this portion rises an mclined cam portion 11. Some from the cam portion 11 is an acute angular depression or cam dro 12, from whichcxtends a horizontal portion 12", vand from the latter portion extends an inclined. cam surface 14. Some distance around the track is an upwardlyinclined cam surface 15, to form an elevated track level 16, the opposite end of which inclins downwardly to provide a cam 18.

At the upper end of the shaft 3 is a spider casting 19, provided with a plurality of ears 20, open at vthe bottom, and outer ortions to form a series of sockets 21, to receive arms 22, pivoted lonl pins 23 extending thru the sockets, and which radiate from the'central shaft 3. Extendingvthru each arm 22, is a screw 24, locked in adjusted position by bolts 25, and at the lower end of veach screw are ears to receive a roller 26, the rollers riding on the track 9. The outer end of each arm 22 is slit to receive a pin 22a preferably made of bamboo or like wood, or such pins may be made of metal if found desirable. In order to clamp the pins in the slits, each arm 22 is provided with a transversely arranged set screw and nut 28.

Supported on the base frame by standards article-holding -ingersv shown in is an annular gutter-like frame '31, having.

formed therein a chocolate or other'confection melting pot, having heating means as at 32, to melt the material. The bottom of the gutter-like frame from the melting pot in one direction is inclined and may be heated, so that any material dro pin from the bars after being dipped will me t and ow back to the pot.

In what may be termed the front of the machine, or at the initial point A of startson ing the operation or coating a bar, there is a platform comprising a stationary frame 35 having ooves 36 to receive ay slide 37, between which and a cross bar on the frame extend guide pins andsprings 38, the latter being adapted to be compressed to return the slide to an initial position during the operation of the machine. Extending from the slide is a pin 39, arranged in the path of a pin 40, depending from each arm 22 to adord convenient means for moving the slide and its load, and compressing the springs, as will hereinafter appear in the description of the operation of the mechanisni. y f

lln` order that the rollers 26 of the arms 22 may be retained in contact with the track 9 and engage the cam surfaces, sprlngs al are mounted on the frame or casting at the top of the shaft 3 and entend outwardly and engage the arms, as shown in the drawings.

Located conveniently above the gutterlike frame are spaced apart stripping iingers 42, designed to form a track, thru which the pins 212a pass, lwhen the coated bar is being automatically disengaged from said pins. Directly under these stripping lingers is a conveyer X to receive the coated article, to be conveyed to a convenient place to be wrapped et cetera.

ln lieu of the pins for picking up the bars, and to extend'the use of the invention for handling other than ice cream bars, ll may provide gripping elements, such as shown in Fig. 8. lhe'se elements each comprise a stem 43. formed at its lower end with a pair of depending spaced apart resilient lingers d4 having their lower ends turned inwardly to engage an article being handled. ln order that these lingers may be opened and closed at the proper time to grip or release an article, two stationary cam members 22 are disposed between the arms 22 and the gutter-like trame. 'llfhese cam members are ini the form of a round wedge or cone, so disposed and arranged in the path of movement as to engage between the lingers so that when it is desired to open the ngers, the latter will engage the small end of the v edge, and as the arms 22 rotate, the wedge surfaces will spread said iingers as shown in Fig. 8.

lln operation, assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. l, an operator places a bar of ice cream or the like on the slide 37 of the platform, and as the shaft 3 is in rotation and the cam depression 10 is lso disposed with reference to the platform, the arm 22 at this time directly above the depression will drop, and the pin carried thereby will correspondingly drop and be driven into the bar of ice cream. At this time, the pin 40 on the arm will engage the afname gather with the bar ol ice cream in with the varizn. 22, thereby compressing the springs 38. 'lllie tensioning of the springs by this action gradually. decreases the movement of the' slide 37, as compared with the movement of the arm 22, and because of the slide moving in a straight line and the arm 22 traveling in the varc of a circle and elevated by its cam, at about the time the springs are compressed, the two pins 39 and d6 will become disengaged and the springs will force the slide back to its normal position to receive the next succeeding bar or ice cream. The ice cream bar and arm 22 move together a distance equal to the length.

o the horizontal portion l0a of the depression 10and then the article is gradually elevated from the slide to be carried to the chocolate pot. lil/"bile the bar and the slide now separate, the latter may continue to move until the pins 39 and 4:0 separate. 'llhe purpose of this movement is to prevent the pin 22 pulling out of the ice cream when the. continuously rotating arm is lowered. 'llhis however, is avoided as at the time of the track 9 is positioned in radial alignment with the chocolate pot, the arm 22 will, because of the inclined surface l2, be gradually lowered, consequently the bar of ice cream will be dipped into the body oi chocolate 4and moved horizontally therein, and then gradually elevated therefrom by the roller 26 traveling up the adjacent inclined surface 14. Continued rotation ol the shaft 3 correspondingly moves the arm 22 away from the dipping point, and conveys the now elevated coated ice cream bar, and any dripping oi chocolate is caught by the inclined bottom 31e' of the trough and conveyed to the chocolate pot. 4lFroni the time the coated bar is lifted from the chocomechanism, which affords sui'licient time iEor the air to cool and harden the coating oi chocolate. When the coated ice cream bar reaches the point of disengagement from the arm 22, indicated at B, the pin 22a therein travels between the guide arms d2 and at about this time, the roller 26 ot said arm engages the inclined cam surface l5 and liifts the arm on its pivot, and thereby the pin is disengaged from the coated bar, and

pin 39, on the slide 37, and' move same tothe latter is allowed to drop onto a conslip ofi' the large-end of the wedge and they inherent resiliency of the metal of the iingers causes them to close and grip the article. When the fingers reach the delivery v point B, they engage the cone 22 adjacent thereto and spread'apart, and thereby drop the article onto the conveyer.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that an operator merely places successive bars of ice cream on the platform and as the arms rotate, they successively automatically pick up the bars and in like inanner convey them to the chocolate pot and dip them in and out, and, then carry them a suicient distance thru the air to cool the coating, and finally deliver the coated bars to a conveyer. As the operation of the machine is continuous and successive, confections can be quickly and automaticallyA coated, and all the articles will be uniform.

While I have specifically described the invention as used particularly for coating ice cream bars, it is in no way imited to this class of confections. It is 'evident that candy fruit or other articles of food can be coated with the saine degree of convenience and speed.

What I claim is:

1. In a coating machine, a platform including a slide, an arm traveling above the platform and carrying `an article engaging device, means for actuating the arm to cause the engaging device to engage an article on the slide, means to subsequently operate the arm to dip and coat the article, and means to remove the coated article from the engaging means.

y2. In a coating machine, the combination of means for limpaling an article to be coated, a pot adapted to contain a semi-fluid coating means to create relative movement between the article 4 engaging means and the coating pot to coat the article with the semi-fluid coating, means for conveying the coated article from the coating pot, means for elevating the engaging means at a predetermined point in the path of travel thereof, and a member to hold the coated article against following such elevating movement of the engaging means, whereby the article is removed from the engaging means.

3. In a coating machine, the combination of a platform having a slide to receive an articleto be coated, a pot adapted to contain a semi-fluid coating, a pluralit of article engaging means traveling over tlie platform and. pot, means for tilting the article'engaging means to pick up an article from the slide and to dip said article in the pot, said engaging means compelling a limited movement of the slide immediately following vthe action of the engaging-means to pick up the article, and means for removing the coated articles fromthe engaging means. 5

4. In a coating machine, the combination of a platform including a` slide, springs placed under tension when the slide is moved in one directionv and adapted to return the slide to normal position, an arm traveling above th e platform and carrying an article engaging device, means for actuating the arm to. cause the engaging device to engage an article on the slide, means between the arm and the slide to compress the spring and carry the engaged article with the arm, and

to be disengaged to return to normal position and permit the article to be held by the engaging means, means to subsequently operate the arm to dip and coat the article, and

means to remove the coated article from the enga ing means'.

5. n a coating machine, the combination of an article Aengaging means, a platform, 'means between the platforir and the vengaging means to cause the article to move a limited distance with the article engaging means and to be withdrawn from thereunder, a pot adapted to contain a semi-fluid coating, means for operating the engagin means to dip the article in the pot, and means for removing the coated article from the engaging means.

6. In a. coating machine, the combination of a revoluble series of arms, each havin an article engaging device near its outer en an article receiving platform, a coating pot disposed some distance from the platform, and cams disposed to successivel tilt the arms adjacent the platform to pick up an article therefrom and to thereafter tilt said arms when adjacent the coating pot to dip the articles, means to withdraw the article engaging device from the coated article at a predetermined point in the travel of the arms, and means to receive the drip from the article throu hout the full course thereof from the coating pot to the discharge means.

7. In a coating machine, the combination with a rotatable arm' provided at its outer end with an article engaging device, a platform having a slide spr-ing actuated in one direction, means for actuating the article engaging means to engage an article on the slide, means for causing the slide to move in unison with the article engaging device at the time the latter is actuated, the actuatin means being returned to normal posiffl ineens for eubsequeniiy dipping the aiiiciee in si coating of confecfion.

8. iin e coating imwchiirie9 the combinoiion o an article receiving platform, a coming 5 pot, :i Vertical shaft, e plurality of :irme

hinged to the vertical simi@ eind bowing mi;

their ends article engaging devices, momie for rotating the sheii, mi annuler wack immeow@ der eine orme, :Seidl breek ine-ving e com cause the orme? to Teck when adjacent i platform? e cem to cause the oms io weil: adjacent the coating pois, midi e. cam eo eie- *mlte the emisto disemgege the engaging device eind ieieese the waited ereicie.

im ibesimomy whereof 1I aix mv sigfiaure GERGE )HALL WHITE., 

